OGN Wednesday

Editor OGN Daily
Sep 10
3 min read

Wednesday's global round up of positive news stories.

Brooke Johnson leaning on her skateboard — Credit: brookedoeseverything | Instagram

Coast to Coast

Brooke Johnson had just become the first woman to cross the United States on a skateboard - a record-setting 3,226-mile journey that began in Santa Monica, California and ended when she walked into the Atlantic Ocean at Virginia Beach after 119 days on the road. Her team, which included an RV and video crew, ultimately raised $50,000 for Wings for Life - a nonprofit dedicated to spinal cord research. Brooke made the epic journey in honour of her stepfather, Roger, who broke his C5 vertebrae and became a quadriplegic. His health continued to decline until he passed away last year. Roger always believed in her and was with her at the end, as his ashes rested inside her necklace while she crossed the finish line.

a crest-tailed mulgara — Credit: r/Awwducational

Good News From Oz

The crest-tailed mulgara has roared back to life. The mini marsupial predator, once listed as Endangered, expanded its range by more than 48,000 km² between 2015 and 2021, lifting its status to Least Concern. Researchers credit biocontrol, plus the species’ drought-hardy physiology, for a rare continent-scale mammal recovery, reports Biological Conservation.

Feeling Optimistic?

According to the latest edition of the Gallup World Poll, more people are feeling optimistic about their lives than at any point since measurements began. This is the world’s most comprehensive survey, covering almost the entire global population, and it shows that 33 percent of humanity are ‘thriving,’ while global rates of suffering have fallen to 7 percent, the lowest level since 2007.

The Bright Side: Some uplifting quotes about optimism.

Matching Tattoo

Parents will do just about anything to make their kids feel loved. For New York-based Eric Conklin, that meant getting a tattoo to match the scar on his son’s chest. His little boy, Bennet, was born with a congenital heart defect and spent over a month in the Pediatric Cardiac ICU. In that short time, Bennet went through seven surgeries, which left him with a long scar down his chest. Conklin on Instagram. “I wanted him to know he’s never alone in this fight. His scar is his story of survival. Mine is a promise: whatever he carries, I’ll carry too.” Thankfully, Bennet is now recovering at home, and Conklin hopes their story will bring comfort to other families facing similar challenges.

Scene from 'The Conjuring: Last Rites' — Credit: Warner Bros.

Hot Streak

The Conjuring: Last Rites had a better-than-expected debut and now ranks as the biggest global start in history for a horror film. The ninth entry in Warner Bros. and New Line’s paranormal franchise collected a sensational $194 million worldwide in its first weekend of release. Furthermore, Variety reports that Warner Bros. just made box office history as the first to ever have seven consecutive films open above $40 million. The remarkable hot streak cover A Minecraft Movie, Sinners, Final Destination Bloodlines, F1: The Movie (which the studio distributed for Apple), Superman and Weapons.

New Species

Deep-sea researchers have helped to make another amazing (and adorable) discovery in waters around 62 miles off the Californian coast. In 2019, MBARI sent a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) 3,268 metres deep in the Monterey Canyon and came across a cute pink snailfish with big eyes and a tadpole-shaped body with bumps all over, swimming just above the seafloor. Now, collaborators from the State University of New York at Geneseo (SUNY Geneseo), the University of Montana and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa have described the charming fish as a bumpy snailfish - Careproctus colliculi.

“You build inner strength through embracing the totality of your experience, both the delightful parts and the difficult parts.” Pema Chodron

On This Day

10 September 1960: Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia runs a world record 2:15:16.2 barefoot to win the men's marathon at the Rome Olympics, Africa's first Olympic gold medal.